Strike Two: US Again Launches ‘Defense’ Attack On Russian And Syrian Forces In Syria – OpEd

By

For the second time in a week, US military forces occupying northeast Syria have attacked Syrian government forces, blowing up a Russian-made T-72 battle tank on Saturday. According to a statement made today by Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of US Air Forces Central Command, US forces saw a Russian tank in Syria that “took a shot at us” and the US side called in an airstrike in “self-defense.”

Harrigian said that the US troops were in a “defensive position” when they spotted the Russian tank and fired on it. He said he could not rule out the possibility that the tank was being driven by Russian soldiers when the US attacked it.

Last week’s US attack on forces loyal to the Syrian government were first reported to have killed a total of 100 fighters, with one or two Russians possibly in the mix. But just today new information suggests that the US attack had killed up to 100 Russians fighting in special “ISIS killers” squads seeking to mop up the last of the extremist group in Syria.

Losing 100 Russians to a US attack in Syria not only shifts a US/Russia proxy war to a US/Russia hot war (on one side thus far), it also carries with it a great political downside for President Vladimir Putin as the Russian presidential election season begins. Liberal challenger to Putin, Grigory Yavlinsky, is already trying to score political points by criticizing the lack of transparency over what Russians are dying for inside Syria. Putin is stuck between a rock and hard place, as he surely understands the dangers of direct retaliation but also sees the political downside of doing nothing as US forces kill Russians in Syria.

Col. Thomas Veale, a spokesman for the Inherent Resolve coalition, said of last week’s strike that it was in response to what are likely Syrian government moves to re-claim control of territory that had been vacated when ISIS was defeated in the area.

US actions in northeastern Syria make it clear that Washington intends to carve out a large chunk of Syrian territory to control, with its proxy Kurd forces acting as boots on the ground. The name of the game is increasingly clear: deny the Syrian government the ability to consolidate its control over large parts of the country now that ISIS is defeated.

The purpose? Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made it clear that the ultimate US goal in Syria was, as it has been for more than ten years, regime change.

It distorts words beyond any stretch of meaning for a foreign military that illegally occupies the territory of another sovereign state to claim “self-defense” when the military of that sovereign state seeks to expel the invaders.

How far is the United States willing to go to pursue the “regime change” policy of the past two US presidencies which remains a prime goal of Washington’s friends in the region including primarily Israel and Saudi Arabia?

Israel’s recent military escalation in Syria was halted — at least temporarily — by a warning call from Putin to Israeli prime minister Netanyahu. Will the Russian president make a similar call to Washington warning against any further US strikes on Russians operating (legally, unlike the Americans) in Syria? Will Trump’s generals heed the warning…or will they seek to call Putin’s bluff?

And what happens if Putin is not bluffing?

This article was published by RonPaul Institute.

Daniel McAdams

Daniel McAdams is the Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity and co-Producer/co-Host, Ron Paul Liberty Report. Daniel served as the foreign affairs, civil liberties, and defense/intel policy advisor to U.S. Congressman Ron Paul, MD (R-Texas) from 2001 until Dr. Paul’s retirement at the end of 2012. From 1993-1999 he worked as a journalist based in Budapest, Hungary, and traveled through the former communist bloc as a human rights monitor and election observer.

14 thoughts on “Strike Two: US Again Launches ‘Defense’ Attack On Russian And Syrian Forces In Syria – OpEd

  • February 14, 2018 at 7:36 am
    Permalink

    Hi, I think you should also include that on Friday, the Tabqa dam gates were opened, flooding the Euphrates and destroying the Russian bridge that these forces used to cross, trapping them on the East bank. Then on Monday they were bombed. I think this detracts from the story that this was a reactive, defensive action.

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 8:24 am
    Permalink

    The funny thing about all this issues is that US,Europe and allies does not recognised the the impart of their actions in trying to start world war 3.imagine a nuclear war between NATO and Russia.where Russia will have to fire all NATO members at sametime.this is because all NATO members will be joining together to fire Russia together. Then Europe will face another destruction as doh as ww2 impact more worst.so americans killing Russians is not a wise decision. The world is coming to an end.God promised not to destroy the world again.but He did not promise that He will not allow insensitive people after their own personal gain not to destroy it.

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 8:47 am
    Permalink

    In this issues, media are also adding to the problems which they don’t realise until is too late. media bias is going to get the world destroy this they might not know.whether u are pro or anti,which ever stance they take is going to lead to same thing.mostly anti Russian sentiments is growing and most of this media are reporting fake news about Russia.the media undermine the human mind.which never forget humiliation.So whether 100 russians are killed by the US airstrikes or not media should verify before they carry fake news.this is because the world existence is hanging on information that the media are fielding

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 9:59 am
    Permalink

    THE WORLD NO LONGER ADHERED TO TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS IN WHICH THEY ARE SIGNATORIES IS RATHER DESTRUCTIVE THAN WAR ITSELF.THE U.N NOT EVEN IN ANY WAY HELP MATTERS LARGELY DUE TO VETO POWERS SOME NATIONS ACQUIRE FOR THEMSELVES AGAINST WHAT SUPPOSED TO BE EQUAL AMONG MEMBER NATIONS. OR IS IT BEING DETERMINED BY WHAT A COUNTRY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD BODY OR,AGAIN PRIMITIVELY ON A MILITARY STRENGTH. EITHER WAY,THE MAIN REASONS COLLECTIVELY IS ENSURE THAT PEACE PREVAIL IN WORLD,BUT THAT NOT TO BE,THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST IS NOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY IN SYRIA,OTHERS SUCH AS THE WESTERN SAHARA, THE TIBET QUESTION,THE KOSOVO,THE CRIMEA AND THE REST SEEMS WORLD ITSELF IS SITTING ON MAN MADE EXPLOSIVES.WITH THESE,I,M TEMPTED TO SUGGEST THAT THE WORLD BODY SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP BE ENLARGED WITH NATIONS OF GOOD INTENTIONS.I MEAN NATION THAT WILL NOT TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST SMALL NATIONS.

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 12:06 pm
    Permalink

    US/ISrael are ISIS’ air force

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 1:47 pm
    Permalink

    Russians need to act before the bully gets too confident. A punch on the nose is worth a thousand words.

    Reply
    • February 14, 2018 at 10:26 pm
      Permalink

      What’s Russia going to do? If Russia “punches” the US on the nose, then the US is going to hit back. Russia will not come out on the winning side in a direct confrontation with the US.

      Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 5:48 pm
    Permalink

    It dint take a shot at you STOP LYING.
    You acted aggressively and illegally, as usual.
    >PROOFS it was defensive..

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 5:56 pm
    Permalink

    Only weak imbeciles call defense an ‘attack’, if you would of called it an offensive retaliatory strike which would of been illegal regardless, would of made it seemed somewhat more plausible and based..

    Defense is supposed to be an implementable shield, there is ZERO projectiles released from that shield, projectile release is call ‘offense’.

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 8:23 pm
    Permalink

    hmmm and what about ukraine and georgia that was defensive correct . and hands on support but denial that russian troops were not involved yea righ

    Reply
  • February 14, 2018 at 8:27 pm
    Permalink

    Putin has a cold war mentality , and the Us should not have Nato members on russias door there is blame for both sides one is not better than the other politians ruin the world . The people of each country would be better off with better representation of there people .

    Reply
    • February 15, 2018 at 12:01 am
      Permalink

      Thumbs up–I agree with you. Cleon Skousen, former high ranking FBI agent, historian, and college professor, said “people will solve their differences, it’s when politicians get involved that things get worse”. Skousen spent considerable time in Israel as an FBI agent. He described how the majority of Palestinian and Israelis interact with no friction. It’s the politicians who divide the rest of them.

      Reply
  • February 16, 2018 at 3:02 am
    Permalink

    After signing the famous Parastrika peace accord:Russia invaded Georgia
    Russia invaded Crimea
    Where will it stop?
    THAT is why Russia can’t be trusted

    Reply
  • February 22, 2018 at 1:59 pm
    Permalink

    Russia should drop a foab on IS positions east of the river, the US advisors imbedded with IS will die, but the US will not be able to admit they where there.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *